Hot water or straightening iron for frizzy hair?

[StarDragon]

Just a real quick question: I have some thrift store G3s that I'm fixing up. They all have frizzy/messy hair, so I am going to use hot water (almost boiled). One girl, Strawberry Surprise, has tinsel and I want to know from all you experienced folk if tinsel will melt from hot water.


Also, would you recommend boiling/hot water or straightening iron (or both) to fix frizzy hair?


Thanks for the help. 

[Oneleo1]

An iron on low heat works well on frizzy hair I believe it is also safe on tinsel, but I have not tried it on tinsel myself.

[munchy]

I don't think tinsel will have a problem with hot water, but a straightening iron will damage it I think. I've never used boiling water personally on frizzy hair, but I've had good results with a straightening iron. Just use lots of conditioner and move quickly so it doesn't melt! And low heat like Oneleo1 said!

[kissthethunder]

You're going to get a lot of conflicting info here. I ruined tinsel in boiled water before, but have rarely ever had problems using my curling iron. Keeping the hair well saturated with conditioner and using a fine tooth comb while straightening has been invaluable to me personally.

[StarDragon]

Well it seems I should start with a low setting straightening iron. I'll try that first. Thanks everyone!!

[NoDivision]

G3 tinsel seems to react differently than G1 tinsel, so that's an important distinction. I use flat irons on g1 tinsel with no issues, but on G3s it has ruined it.

[StarDragon]

G3 tinsel seems to react differently than G1 tinsel, so that's an important distinction. I use flat irons on g1 tinsel with no issues, but on G3s it has ruined it.

Ohh, rreally?? o_o Good thing I haven't started yet, maybe I will see what others have to say too. The tinsel difference is important, thanks. Maybe I will experiment on a strand of tinsel with boiling/hot water and see what that will do..

[KtKat]

Start with hot water from the tap, first, conditioner will help too.   Can't go wrong with that!

[katrine2309]

Just remember to use lots and lots of conditioner in the hair if you decide to use a straightning iron - and move quickly.

Have you tried using conditioner or fabric softener with hot water first? I have saved some frizzy hair with only fabric softener and hot water, saving me from having to use much heat on pony hair. And when that doesn't work I use a straightener

[MsTwilight]

On G1s I do a serious fabric softener soak and combing followed by pulling about 4 plugs of hair at a time through a hot curling iron all the while dipping it in the conditioner. I like a curling iron better than a flat iron because of the smaller size. You can really concentrate of a few plugs at a time and have more control.

Here is another great tutorial... http://mlppreservationproject.webstarts.com/hair.html#Frizz

[partypony566]

You're going to get a lot of conflicting info here. I ruined tinsel in boiled water before, but have rarely ever had problems using my curling iron. Keeping the hair well saturated with conditioner and using a fine tooth comb while straightening has been invaluable to me personally.

This....I've just sorted out a crazily bad haired Stripes this way.

[hathorcat]

G3 tinsel seems to react differently than G1 tinsel, so that's an important distinction. I use flat irons on g1 tinsel with no issues, but on G3s it has ruined it.

Yes I find this as well - very high heats on G3 tinsels seems to remove the coating. In fact I dont ever use a flat iron or curling iron on tinsel. If I have a pony with tinsel in her hair she gets her hair "ironed" with a clothes iron - a damp [with really cold water] pillow case and then between the sides of the case I put the pony hair and then on the lowest setting I sweep the hair with the iron - short bursts and if the pillow case heats up I skoosh a little cold water on it and then sweep with the iron again - i.e. applying heat but not allowing heat to built up.

Personally I always try conditioner and nearly boiling water first before moving on to any kind of irons - I havent found the temperature of near boiling water damages tinsel as yet.

As others have said just remember lots of conditioner and keeping the hair damp as you work. But unfortunately, although people have had success straightening tinsel with extreme heat, lots of others have had some nasty melting experiences.

[Skeen]

I've never ruined tinsel with my flat iron, and I've ironed every generation.  The key is keeping the hair slathered with good conditioner.

[babystarz]

I recommend using heat styling with a flat iron only as a last resort when other less intensive methods have failed. Flat ironing can permanently change the texture of the hair, and it does cause some damage. Obviously it is a great tool to use on super frizz, but definitely go with the hot water/conditioner/fabric softener routes first!